Setting device for cork brick or the like

ABSTRACT

A holder for setting a group of cork brick or the like, on a receiving surface, has a base plate provided with sharp prongs extending from one face and upon which the bricks may be impaled in a desired array. Pusher members are mounted on the plate and movable to push the brick off the prongs onto the receiving surface. Means are also provided to properly space the bricks on the device and also relative to bricks previously applied to the receiving surface. The base plate is preferably somewhat flexible so as to conform to irregularities of the receiving surface.

United States Patent 1 Bell [-451 Feb. 18, 1975 1 SETTING DEVICE FOR CORK BRICK OR THE LIKE [76] lnventor: William A. Bell, 286 Rosemont Gardens, Lexington, Ky, 40503 Filed: June 25,1974

Appl. No; 482,862

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1906 Mangin 294/61 3/1949 Hardie et al.

3,020,082 2/1962 Engelke 294/87 R Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Harold P. Smith, Jr. Attorney, Agermor Firm-Bacon & Thomas [5 7] ABSTRACT A holder for setting a group of cork brick or the like. on a receiving surface, has a base plate provided with sharp prongs extending fromone face and upon which the bricks may be impaled in a desired array. Pu'sher members are mounted on the plate and movable to push the brick off the prongs onto the receiving sur- 'face. Means are also provided to properly space the bricks on the device and also relative to bricks previously applied to the receiving surface. The base plate is preferably somewhat flexible so as to conform to irregularities of the receiving surface.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures r d/m PAIENIEU FEB 1 81975 sum 1 OF 2 PATENTEU FEB 1 8'9??? SHEET 2 OF 2 1 SETTING DEVICE FOR CORK BRICK OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION the, group to hold them in the desired arrangement.

Such devices, however, are not suitable for holding such soft and somewhat compressible items as cork brick. Thecork brick referred to are relatively thin .slabs of cork material, usually rectangular, shaped and dimensioned to simulate the edge of a conventional brick. The cork brickare; adhesively applied to a wall or the like in spaced array to provide the appearance of a brick wall with mortar joints between the brick.

The placing of such cork bricks on a wall manually and one at a time is laborious and expensive and often results in errors in spacing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a base plate having prongs thereon on which the cork brick may be im-' paled in an exactly arranged array wherein the bricks are spaced apart "and includes pusher means for push ing the impaled bricks off the prongs onto a receiving surface. I

It is, therefore, a principal object of this'invention to provide a device for receiving and holding a plurality of cork bricks in a specific arrayv and permitting the placement of the entire group, asa unit, onto, a receiving surface.

A further object is to provide such a device having means for accurately spacing the group with reference to previously applied bricks or astructural member.

A still further object is to provide such a device simple in structure and inexpensive to produce while being highly efficient in operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of the device of the present invention, showing several cork bricks in place and a few bricks omitted;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken ranged in a predetermined array. The base plate 2 is preferably formed of transparent and somewhat flexible material, such as a sheet of transparent plastic but is sufficiently rigid to normally maintain a planar shape. By making the plate 2 transparent it is possible for the operator to view the bricks being applied to a receiving surface, through the plate :itself. However, transparency and flexibility are not essential to the principles of the invention. The front face of the base plate 2 is provided with groups of outwardly projecting sharp prongs 4, each grouppreferably surrounding an opening 6 cut through the base plate. As shown in FIG. I, there is one opening 6 and one group of prongs 4 for each half brick and two such openings and groups of prongs for each full brick. As shown in FIG. 1 and more apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7, co'rk bricks 8 may be impaled on the prongs 4 to overlie the openings 6, all as clearly shownin FIG. 1. Preferably, the base plate 2 is also provided with spacer strips 10 fixed thereon and defining rectan gular spaces for reception of the cork bricks 8. Thus,

, the spacers l0 accurately position the bricks" 8 relative on the line 4-4 of FIG.'- 2 showing one of the hinged spacer blocks at the end of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a simulated brick used in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on the line 66 of FIG.2 showing the bricks mounted on the setting apparatus prior to.their contact with a wall structure; and

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 6 but showing the bricks, released from the setting apparatus and being pressed against the wall structure.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the device of the present to each other. As shown in the drawings, the bricks 8 are relatively thin slabs of cork material readily penetrable by the prongs 4. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to use with cork bricks specifically but may be employed with other similar ar-- ticles capable of being impaled by the prongs.

The spacer strips 10', previously described, do not ex- -of the plate 2 to extend the full length thereof and is of a height about equal to that ,of strips 10, as clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. No such member is provided on the opposite longitudinal edge of the plate, the ar-' rangement being such that the edges of the bricks 8 are substantially flush with the said other edge, as again clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the ends of the bricks are flush with the ends of the plate. It is to be noted that the ribs or bars 12 are of the same thickness as the width of the spacer strips I0. At its ends the base plate 2 is provided with hinged spacer blocks 14, best shown in FIG. 4. The blocks 14 are hinged to the upper corners of the plates 2'by hinges l6 and may be selecis positioned a movable pusher member 18. As shown,

the openings 6vand pusher members 18 are of circular shape but any other suitable configuration may be adopted. Each pusher member 18 is mounted on the forward end of a rod 20 and the rear ends of the rods 20 are clamped to a movable frame 22 comprising transverse bars 24 through which the rods 20 extend and to. which they are clamped by means of nuts 26 and pins 28 extending through the rods 20. The transverse bars 24 are united into a substantially rigid framework by longitudinally extending rods or bars 30 secured thereto in any suitable manner.

Also fixed to thebase plate 2 and extending over the rear face of the plate2 and over openings 6 are stop bars 32 having openings therein through which the rods 20 slidably extend. A coil spring 34 surrounds each rod 20 and functions to urge the frame 22 and pusher members I8 to the right, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. However,

the stop bars 32, fixed to plate 2, limit such movement and normally hold the-pusher members 18 flush with the front face of the plate 2.

As shown, a pair of stop bars 36 extend transversely across and are secured to the frame members 30 at a location between transverse bars 24. The base plate 2 is provided with upstanding stop means 38 on its rear face engageable with the stop bars 36 to thereby limit the extent to which frame 22 may be pressed toward plate 2 and thus limit the projection of pusher members 18 from the front face of plate 2. The permitted distance of movement of the pusher members 18 is sufficient to'push thecork bricks 8 off the prongs 4 and thus release them from the holding device. 1 The. rear face of the plate 2 is also provided with suitable handles 40 by which the device may be grasped to be manipulated by the user. It is to be further noted that the handles 40 project from the rear face of the plate 2a distance greater than the height of the frame 22 above plate 2. Thus, the entire device may be placed on its back with the straight portions of handles 40 .resting on a supporting surface and thus the frame 22 will be held freeof engagement with that supporting surface. At that time the cork bricks 8 may be manually applied to the device between the strips 10 until they engage the prongs 4 and then pressed into impaling engagement with the prongs 4, the handles 40 resisting any downward pressure applied to the apparatus.

With the apparatus thus described, the device may be loaded with cork bricks as set forth above and the upper facesof those bricks may then be coated with a suitable adhesive. It is preferred, however, that a thick body of adhesive be applied to the upper faces of the bricks in those regions directly opposite the pusher members 18, as indicated at 42 in FIG. 1. Assuming that some cork bricks have already been applied to the wall or other receiving surface, the device may then be manipulated by the user to position the rib or rob 12 in abutting engagement with the previously applied. bricks 44 .(see FIGS. 6 and 7) to thus properly space the bricks on the device from those previously applied, at which time the user while grasping the members 36 and 38, may, with the thumbs of those hands, depress the frame 22 by pressure on bars 36 to hold bricks 8 against the wall with sufficient pressure to cause the adhesive on the bricks to engage the receiving surface and spread thereover sufficiently to hold the bricks in place. He may then squeeze 36 and 38 together to pull the prongs 4 from the bricks while still pressing the bricks toward the wall by bars 36. When it is desired to place the longitudinal edges of the group of bricks-on the device directly against a baseboard or other structural member, it is only necessary to turn the device over from the position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, so that the edges of the bricks which are flush with the edge of the'plate 2 are in position to engage the baseboard or structural member.

In situations where atleast one horizontal row of bricks has been applied to the receiving surface and are provided on both ends of the apparatus, the user may work from left to right or from right to left, as he chooses. It will be obvious that either of the sets of -blocks 14 may be'swung to and retained in the dotted line position of FIG. 4 whereupon bricks on the device, whose ends are flush with the ends of the plate 2, may then be applied to.the supporting surface in abutment with a corner or other structural feature of the building and this may be done at either selected end of the device whether the rib or bar 12 is at the upper or lower edge. The blocks 14 may also be used to position the plate 2 a predetermined distance from a receiving surface. Y

After the cork bricks 8 are applied to the receiving surface, it will be apparent that they are spaced apart as provided by the spacer strips 10. To properly simulate a brick wall, the space therebetween should have the appearance of mortar. To this end it is contemplated that a suitable material be then applied to the spaces between bricks to simulate mortar or that the receiving surface be painted or otherwise treated, either before or after applying the bricks, to simulate mortar. In some instances the color and texture of the wall itself may be such that no further treatment is necessary.

As previously stated, the plate 2 is preferably somewhat flexible. This permits limited flexure to accommodate for any irregularities of the receiving surface. Thus, bricks may be properly applied to a wall even though its surface may undulate slightly. Also, the frame 22 is sufficiently flexible to permit manual depression of any one of the pushers where necessary to accommodate such irregularities. It will also be apparent that, instead of holding the device by handles 40, the user may grasp bars 36- and stop members 38 (the latter being in the shape of handles) to manipulate the device and by squeezing 36 and 38 together the members 18 are caused to push bricks off the prongs 4.

While a single specific embodiment of the. invention has been shown and described, the same is merelyillustrative of the principles involved and other embodiments may be adopted within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A setting device for cork brick or the like comprising a normally generally planar base plate member having a plurality of openings therethrough;

sharp prongs projecting from the front face of .said

plate adjacent each of said openings;

a pusher member. in each of said openings and yieldable means normallyholding said pusher members substantially flush with said front face, said members being mounted on said plate for movement outwardly of said front face whereby cork bricks or the like may be impaled on said prongs to overlie said openings and members and the device positioned to place said bricks against a receiving surface and the members pushed outwardly of said openings against the action of said yieldable means to thereby push said bricks off said prongs and into engagement with said receiving surface; and means on said front face of said plate arranged to position said cork brick' or the like in a predetermined array thereon in uniformly spaced apart-relation.

2. A device as defined in claim 1' wherein said plate is self-sustaining but somewhat flexible.

3. A device as defined in claim I wherein frame means are provided interconnecting all said members into a unitary assembly for simultaneousmovement relative tosaid plate.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 including interengaging means on said frame means and on said plate for limiting movement of said members to a predetermined amount.

5. A device as defined in claim 3 including support means on the rear face of said plate arranged to support said device on a supporting surface with said front face and prongs uppermost and with said frame means out of engagement with said supporting surface.

6. A device as defined in claim 3 including generally U-shaped handles on said plate adjacent said frame means whereby the user may grasp said handles to manipulate said device and the hands grasping said handles may also move said frame means to project said pusher members from said openings.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 including a fixed rib member extending along one edge of said plate, and projecting from said front face thereof, whereby said rib may be engaged with cork bricks or the like, previmeans may be placed in said first position to be engaged with cork bricks or the like, previously applied to said receivingsurface, to position cork bricks or the like then on said device in predetermined relation to those previously applied, or in said second position to permit abutting cork bricks or the like thereon against a structural member.

9. A device as defined in claim 4 including means on said plate for positioning the same a predetermined dis 

1. A setting device for cork brick or the like comprising a normally generally planar base plate member having a plurality of openings therethrough; sharp prongs projecting from the front face of said plate adjacent each of said openings; a pusher member in each of said openings and yieldable means normally holding said pusher members substantially flush with said front face, said members being mounted on said plate for movement outwardly of said front face whereby cork bricks or the like may be impaled on said prongs to overlie said openings and members and the device positioned to place said bricks against a receiving surface and the members pushed outwardly of said openings against the action of said yieldable means to thereby push said bricks off said prongs and into engagement with said receiving surface; and means on said front face of said plate arranged to position said cork brick or the like in a predetermined array thereon in uniformly spaced apart relation.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate is self-sustaining but somewhat flexible.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein frame means are provided interconnecting all said members into a unitary assembly for simultaneous movement relative to said plate.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3 including interengaging means on said frame means and on said plate for limiting movement of said members to a predetermined amount.
 5. A device as defined in claim 3 including support means on the rear face of said plate arranged to support said device on a supporting surface with said front face and prongs uppermost and with said frame means out of engagement with said supporting surface.
 6. A device as defined in claim 3 including generally U-shaped handles on said plate adjacent said frame means whereby the user may grasp said handles to manipulate said device and the hands grasping said handles may also move said frame means to project said pusher members from said openings.
 7. A device as defined in claim 1 including a fixed rib member extending along one edge of said plate, and projecting from said front face thereof, whereby said rib may be engaged with cork bricks or the like, previously applied to said receiving surface, to position cork bricks or the like then on said device in predetermined spaced relation to those previously applied.
 8. A device as defined in claim 1 including spacer means mounted at at least one edge of said plate for selective movement from a first position in which it projects outwardly of said front face to a second position rearwardly of said plate, whereby said spacer means may be placed in said first position to be engaged with cork bricks or the like, previously applied to said receiving surface, to position cork bricks or The like then on said device in predetermined relation to those previously applied, or in said second position to permit abutting cork bricks or the like thereon against a structural member.
 9. A device as defined in claim 4 including means on said plate for positioning the same a predetermined distance from a receiving surface. 